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Rolling out the magic carpet

It’s not difficult to play tourist in Jerusalem, but it is a rare thing to feel completely transported to another time and place. The American Colony Hotel, the former residence of a 19th-century Ottoman pasha, is a Jerusalem institution for precisely that reason. Romancing the visitor with the building’s Arabic arches, oasis-like dining area and its rich history, this getaway is deeply embedded in the Jerusalem story.

Every Friday evening during the summer months, the staff of the hotel invites Jerusalemites, as well as tourists, to enjoy their Arabian nights, a celebration of Arabic dishes – accompanied by an oud player – in the hotel’s iconic setting.